Inclusive sports league aims to serve the special-needs youth of Taunton

Thursday

Feb 13, 2014 at 9:33 PMFeb 13, 2014 at 9:38 PM

Marc Larocque Enterprise Staff Writer @Enterprise_Marc

TAUNTON — A Taunton group is working to form a youth sports league in the city to serve as an inclusive alternative athletic organization for “mentally, physically and socially unique” youths.

Taunton White Tigers is a planned youth league to serve special-needs children, which aims to provide an outlet for athletes of all different ability types to learn about sports and play in a non-competitive atmosphere.

On Wednesday, Taunton mother Jenn Wilson said that she is motivated to help found the group to provide a local recreational resource, to provide exercise and camaraderie for youngsters whose needs are not met by a traditional competitive sports league.

“It will fill a huge need,” Wilson said. “This is for children with disabilities and also for kids with social issues. If a child is really shy but wants to learn sports, they can come too. Right now there is nothing for kids with social issues.”

Wilson said that she used to teach special needs children, but now she is the mother of several special needs kids.

“Although coaches and organizations my kids have been involved with have been great, the other athletes, I found, got frustrated because they want to win,” Wilson said. “I wanted to create an organization geared for all different ability types and in a non-competitive way to learn the sport and teamwork and basically skills to have fun and get to know people at the same time.”

The Taunton White Tigers group is holding an information meeting and board selection on March 12 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is being held at Mulcahey School at 28 Clifford St., Wilson said.

This program is moving along but cannot move any further without a board of directors, fundraising and athletes.

The Facebook page set up by the Taunton White Tigers has nearly 300 members.

Tiffany Fries, vice president of the Taunton White Tigers, said that she has four children and that the league will be helpful in terms of cultivating teamwork while being inclusive to children of all ability levels.

“The problem we face is that he would have difficulty keeping up with the rigorous training,” Fries said. “(My son) would need extra help and patience to understand all the rules of the game. That would make him become frustrated with himself and take the fun out of it. The White Tigers will give all children the opportunity to belong to a team, to play, to learn, and grow.”

Fries said the league will be a good opportunity for parents of special needs children in the city to come together for a good cause.

“It will offer coaches and board members and players who understand each different ability and can adapt to it so that everyone can reach their full potential without the pressure of letting a peer or coach or team down,” Fries said. “This league opens the door for every child to have that chance. That is something I am proud to be a part of.”

Wilson said Taunton White Tigers is now working to get a proper insurance policy to provide coverage allowing the group to use public fields in the city.

Donations for the Taunton White Tigers can now be made at any Mechanics bank through the Taunton White Tiger Fundraising fund, Wilson said.

For more information on the group, go to www.facebook.com/taunton.whitetigers.